'Now, listen carefully' said Marta, our tour guide as we entered the
Favela. passing the entrance guards. They were a motley gang of half a
dozen youths with machine guns – don't take pictures of the people
holding the guns. She had our attention.
Just seconds before we were marveling at some of the most expensive homes in Rio. Now, within less than half a kilometre were had entered another world.
'Don't take pictures of anyone specific, just 'general' photos'. 'If you ignore my advice, I may not be able to help you', she warned. This is going to be some afternoon alright – a trip deep inside a Favela is not a thing many people experience.
Martha really knows her stuff – She is a Rio tour guide and has extensive knowledge of the Favela and it's people.
It's a complete paradox – this is where the poor have the best views of any city in the world, yet live 'just up the street' in some cases, to the wealthiest inhabitants of Rio.
The Favelas are a feature of many cities in Brasil, but Rio in particular. Rio has around 1.5 million of it's people living in intolerable (to us) conditions. That's around 20% of Rio's population. Most people that do work, have the most menial and low-paid jobs in the city.
The other sector of the population engage in most of the criminal activity found in Rio. Drug dealing and distribution being the most common.
There are
three main gangs that 'control' all of Rio's Favelas. Sometimes a
bloody and deadly 'turf war' is fought over the ownership of a Favela.
The ganglord in charge controls all activities. There is no 'crime' in
a Favela – it's an unwritten rule that no harm will come to any
inhabitant. A different story outside of it though.
This is the most tragic yet frightening and illuminating experience I've had – ever. I really can't begin to do this subject justice – I was trying to write notes, along with ensuring not to make eye-contact with anyone on the street. I'll let my photo's tell the story.
I've put a link to the tour website on the left side of the page. Anyone visiting Rio should have this on their itinerary.
For further understanding of this way of life have a look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favela
My own 'jigsaw' of Rio is now becoming complete – piece by piece. All I have to do now is learn some Samba...
Previous comments:
Amanda McDonald:
September 8, 2008
Hi Woz very interesting read particularly the favela article at wikipedia. Thanks for the lesson I had never heard of them. No wonder you were careful who you were looking at.
Hope you get the recipes for those lime bombshells they sound like a good drink!
My first CS hosting this weekend was brilliant. Looking forward to the next one. Regards Amanda
I'll send the recipe - not sure we'll get them in the Hunter Valley though.
Oz won't be the same after I introduce you all to Caipirinhas. Oh and Tapas - and Siesta time!!
Glad you have a good weekend.
September 14, 2008
Hi Warren
Finally got the chance to read your posts and viewed the slides ALL AT ONCE.
You've managed to capture the flavour. Watch the following for the pix you werent able/allowed to capture
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpSkF65efqE&feature=related
Have fun, safe travel!
Lena
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